168 



celebrated gierals that have appeared m the 

 world. Thej even called him the Chilian Han- 

 nibalj from a fancied resemblance between his 

 character, and that of the famous Carthaginian 

 general, although, in some respects, it had a 

 much greater similarity to that of Scipio. To 

 use the words of the Abbe Olivarez "^ It is 

 not just to depreciate his merit whom, had he 

 been ours, we should have elevated to the rank 

 of a hero. If we celebrate with propriety the 

 martial prowess of the Spanish Viriatus, we 

 ought not to obscure that of the American Lau- 

 taro, when both contended with the same valour 

 in the cause of their country." 



The Araucanians for a long time lamented 

 the loss of their valiant countryman, to whom 

 they owed all the success of their arms, and on 

 whose conduct and valour they entirely relied 

 for the recovery of their liberties. His name is 

 still celebrated in their heroic songs, and his 

 actions proposed as the most glorious model for 

 the imitation of their youth. But above all, 

 Caupolican felt this fatal loss : As he was a 

 sincere lover of his country, far from thinking 

 he was freed from a rival, he believed he had 

 lost his chief co-operator in the glorious work 

 of restoring it to freedom. As soon as he re- 

 ceived the mournful news, he quitted the siege 

 of Imperial, which was reduced to the last ex- 



